For this drawing, let’s use soft and warm colors to reflect the atmosphere of peace and love in the stable.
The Manger and Straw: Use light browns and beige tones for the manger and straw. Short strokes for the straw will help give it a fluffier and more realistic texture. Add shadows in the corners of the manger to make it look deeper.
The Clothing of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus: Color Mary and Joseph’s clothes in shades of blue, brown, and white, which represent purity and simplicity. For baby Jesus, use a soft white for the blanket and warm skin tones for his face and hands.
The Star of Bethlehem: For the star, use a bright yellow or gold. You can make it stand out even more by adding a soft glow around it, using lighter shades that expand from the center.
The Animals (Lamb and Donkey): The lamb can be colored with soft white or light gray tones, and the donkey with brown or dark gray. Use shadows beneath them to create depth and make it look like they’re really in the stable.
The Background and Stable: Use browns and grays for the wooden stable and darker tones for the background, so the focus stays on the manager and the characters. Add small shadows around the edges to create a sense of warmth and realism.
Did you know that the tradition of the Christmas nativity scene became popular thanks to Saint Francis of Assisi in the 13th century? He recreated the birth of Jesus in a cave in Italy to help people visualize and feel the peace of that special moment. Since then, nativity scenes have become a tradition in many cultures around the world.
